The SME Center FEB UI and BPDPKS Held a Bootcamp for SMEs and Palm Oil Farmers in Sanggau, West Kotawaringin, and Mamuju

The SME Center FEB UI and BPDPKS Held a Bootcamp for SMEs and Palm Oil Farmers in Sanggau, West Kotawaringin, and Mamuju

DEPOK – (2–7 / 11/2020) The Covid-19 pandemic  has certainly disrupted businesses, both for SMEs and palm oil farmers. A  way to overcome this, during the pandemic, is through entrepreneurship training for SMEs and palm oil farmers. The SME Center FEB UI was fully sponsored by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) to conduct  bootcamp activities for empowerment and institutional strengthening of Palm Oil SMEs.

The bootcamp  started with a database collection process involving the Indonesian Palm Oil Smallholders Association (APKASINDO), the Association of Palm Oil Farmers PIR (ASPEKPIR), the cooperative office, the plantation agency, and palm oil-based SMEs in Sanggau, West Kalimantan; West Kotawaringin, South Kalimantan; and Mamuju, West Sulawesi. The  training was held through a fairly strict protocol, divided into two chapters by limiting the number of participants in the room. The participants were equipped with a fairly complete PPE, while online sessions were also available.

The database obtained was then enlarged  into superior foster partners for palm oil farmers and palm oil-based SMEs, who were trained and mentored. The bootcamp was available for 90 selected participants in Sanggau – West Kalimantan, Kotawaringin Barat – South Kalimantan and Mamuju – West Sulawesi, consisted of APKASINDO and ASPEKPIR members who also run their own businesses.

The 6-day bootcamp (2–7/November/2020) was opened with remarks from Hj. Nurhidayah, S.H, M.H., Regent of West Kotawaringin; Drs. H. Abdul Wahab Hasan, Acting Regent of Mamuju; Jumadi, S.Sos, Chair of the DPRD Sanggau Regency; Budi Santosa, Dandim Representative from Sanggau Regency; Eddie Wibowo, Director of Partnership BPDP-KS; and TM Zakir Machmud, Ph.D., Head of SME Center FEB UI. The speakers explained the conditions of the region and the palm oil plantations in their respective areas.

The event was continued with a session on making a business model canvas to enable SMEs and farmers to identify a good business model. The business model consists of nine main elements, including building partners, explaining activities, identifying potential resources, assessing products, building relationships with consumers, recognizing distribution channels, consumer segmentation, as well as cost and revenue structures. From  all the participants, two participants were selected to represent Sanggau – West Kalimantan, Kotawaringin Barat – Central Kalimantan and Mamuju – West Sulawesi.

The participants were highly enthusiastic at this event. Nearly all of the participants’ products were respectable and have the potential to represent Sanggau, Mamuju and Kotawaringin Barat nationally. Prizes were handed over by the head of the industry, trade, cooperative and SME offices in their respective regions. The event was followed by a quiz which was held simultaneously in three regions. Sanggau was among the top five in this quiz.

The subject discussed in the second day of the session (3/11/2020) was related to digital marketing and product photos. This subject is really important during the pandemic era, and was delivered directly by influencers on Instagram and Youtube. Participants learn about digital marketing as well as good product photos.

The online session presented a discussion on financial reporting as well as success stories for palm-based entrepreneurs. Several participants stated that “the event is useful for the sustainability of businesses for farmers and SMEs and is expected to be continued”.

Permata Wulandari, the head of the bootcamp committee from the SME Center FEB UI, also representing the organizer, stated “The enthusiasm of the participants to learn was extraordinary. Several resource persons presented their subject remotely through the zoom application. But thankfully, the situation did not discourage the participants from actively participating. Thank you to BPDP-KS who has sponsored this event. Farmers prosper, SMEs prosper, Indonesia Prospers!” (hjtp)

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